Hydraulic brake



' g- 0, 1949. E. STEWART 2,480,270

HYDRAULIC BRAKE Filed Nov. 10, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 (I orneg E. STEWART HYDRAULIC BRAKE Aug. 30, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1945 Zsnventor EARLE STEWART (Iltomeg Aug. 30, 1949. E; S RT 2,480,270

HYDRAULIC BRAKE Filed Nov. 10, 1945 :5 Sheets-Sheet a I V v nvcn EARLE STEWART (meg braking.

Patented Aug. 30, 1949 HYDRAULIC BRAKE Earle Stewart, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Glen L. Martin Company, Middle River, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application November 10, 1945, Serial No. 627,917

4 Claims. 1

This invention generally relates to an improved hydraulic brake and more particularly to features of the brake block mounting and expander structure which are improvements over the brake described in co-pending application, Serial No. 507,986, flled October 28, 1943, now Patent Number 2,390,311, dated December 4, 1945.

The brake herein described is of a class generally referred to as hydraulic brakes, in that the actuating mechanism is operated by a hydraulic fluid pressure. In brakes of this type, it is necessary that the brake block be forced against the brake drum with enough force tostop the rotation ofthe drum which is usually mounted on the wheel of a vehicle, within a predetermined time and with a minimum of lag between the actuation of the brake pedal and the application of the braking force of the brake block on the brake drum. Inother words, as soon as the brake pedal is depressed the effect of the brake and the feel of the brake should be immediately noticeable in the brake pedal of the vehicle. In most hydraulic brakes there is a noticeable lag between the operation of the brake pedal and the braking vision of a brake block mounting in a hydraulic 1 brake that will prevent end-play and chatter upon Another object of this invention is the provision of brake blocks, the ends of which are sloped parallel with the plane through the center of the brake and through the center of the brake actuator assembly, and supporting these blocks between similarly inclined members flxed to the mounting member so that the brake blocks will move radially but be restrained from peripheral motion.

I Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and readily removable mounthig for the .2 which form part of this disclosure in which like numerals refer to like parts.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a view of the brake actuator assembly.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing the fluid connections and the brake block adjustment,

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

- Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 6.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken onth'e line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the brake blocks showing the relationship of the retracting spring to the ends of the blocks.

The brake actuator shown in Figure l is adapted to be attached to a flange on the axle of the wheel of any vehicle. In the usual application, a brake drum 31 will be mounted on the wheel of the vehicle and fit over the brake actuator in the conventional manner.

This invention is primarily concerned with the brake block actuator unit. The unit illustrated in the drawings consists of a mounting member I' having an annular channel! formed in the periphery thereof to receive the brake blocks 3 and support the block expander mechanism. As shown more clearly in Figure 4, brake blocks 3 flt in channel 2 with a sliding fit between the side walls 4 and 5 of the channel. As described in the co-pending application mentioned above, brake blocks 3 are moved radially by hydraulic pressure acting upon a resilient annular gasket 6. This gasket is mounted in groove 1. The side walls of groove 1 are substantially parallel or may be formed with'a slight taper. Thrust members 8 form a segmental ring that extends around the groove between the resilient gasket 6 and the brake blocks 3'. The fluid pressure in groove 1 expands the resilient gasket 6 and thrust members 8 move radially to force brake blocks 3 against the brake drum. A member 9, the width of groove 1, fits between the adjacent ends of segments 8 to prevent the extrusion of gasket 6 when forced outwardly of the groove by hydraulic pressure. The two ends of member 9 under segments 8 are feather-edged to prevent any damage to the gasket.

In Figure 6, it will be seen that the ends-of brake blocks 3 are sloped, as shown at 3', so tha the end faces thereof form planes that are par- -3 she! to the center line of the brake actuator assembly. The spring members which act as both torque reaction members and return springs comprise inclined portions l and leaf spring portions ii. In the operative position in the assemb y. pins l2 locate the spring members so that portions l0 form an abutment for the inclined ends of the brake blocks 2. It will be noted from Figure 6 that as elastic member 6 moves brake block 2 radially the block moves along its center line which extends through the axis of the assembly and the inclined end portions 8' move parallel with the center line along the inner faces of portions it of the spring. The ends of the blocks move so that they are continuously supported between portions ll of two adjacent prings.

moving around the periphery of the brake actuator. Since portions ll of the springs are retained in place by pins l2, the portions ll of the springs and pins i2 absorb the torque reaction of the brake actuator. That is, as the brake drum moves around the brake blocks in either direction and the brake blocks are expanded into a braking position against the drum, they will be subjected to a torque and since the brake blocks are continuously supported on each, end by the inner faces of portions ll of the springs the torque load will be directly transmitted. to pins 12 and there will be no tendency to chatter or vibrate as each block 3 is restrained at its ends.

Portions ll of the leaf spring rest in cut-out portion ii of the brake block so as not to extend above sides 4 and i and aflord a return force on the ends of the brake blocks. As the fluid pres- In this way each block is free to move radially of the assembly but is restrained fromsure expands gasket 6, the brake blocks are forced outwardly against the force of spring portions il. When the fluid pressure is relieved leaf spring portions ll afford a return force to cause brake blocks 2 to be retracted from engagement with the drums. that is, the fluid pressure causes blocks 2 to move radially and exert a braking force on the brake drum and that outward radial motion is resisted by the return springs ll. When the fluid pressure decreases so that the force on the brake blocks exerted by the fluid pressure is less than that exerted by the return springs, the brake blocks will be forced into the bottom of channel 2.- After the brake blocks have been worn. it will take more and more fluid to move the blocks into a braking position. This condition is undesirable because the larger the volume of fluid transferred through the system, the greater the in; in the braking system. Therefore, the adjustment shown in Figure 3 is inserted in the fluid pressure line to compensate for wear as each brake block wears. Fluid pressure line I! is connected to opening II in mounting member]. A plug II is threaded into an opening 2| in the mounting member located between fluid connection I I and fluid valve 24. This plug comprises a cylinder 2i andapiston 22. Thebottomofplug ilisflatand .iect to several forces. when fluid flows from line I! into chamber ll, fluid pressure acting on diaphragm 23 causes the piston 22 to move inwardly of housing 2| and fluid will flow from chamber 2| between surface 25 and diaphragm 22 into chamber 26 and groove I to actuate brake block 2. When the pressure is relieved in chamber 2|, the pressure in chamber 2' exerts a force on diaphragm 22 which causes the fluid to flow put the diaphragm so that the brake block 2 may be moved into channel 2 by portions ll of the leaf spring. Upon relieving th pressure in line I! the only pressure on the fluid in chamber II which is in turn exerted upon diaphragm 22 is derived from portions ll of the leaf springs. Portions H of the leaf spring afford the greatest return force in their positions of maximum distortion, that is, when blocks 2 are in engagement with the drum, and the force exerted by the springs decreases as the springs return block I to the bottom of the channel 2. Therefore, if the spring tension of spring 21 is so adiusted that the force on the. diaphragm exceeds the force exerted by springs II the fluid will not pass from chamber 26 to chamber- SI and the blocks will not retract. If the spring tension of spring 21 is considerably less than the force exerted by springs I l the fluid from chamber 26 will be forced against the diaphragm quite readily into chamber 2|. It can, therefore, be seen that by adjusting spring tension 21 the force of springs ll may be baianced to any desired degree.

The mechanism above described can be built into each brake actuator and as wear is encountered on any brake, the brake blocks may be adjusted on that particular brake. It can be seen that by adjusting the tension in spring 21 the brake blocks 3 can practically bemade to float in channel 2 and any desired clearance between the brake blocks and the drum may be maintained.

Due to the fact that the radial motion of the ends of brake blocks 3 is very slight, the pressure between the ends of the blocks and portions ll of the spring is almost entirely static pressure and with blocks of suitable resistance to a compressive load there is little or no wear with this construction and therefore there is no tendency to chatter during the life of the brake block because the ends of the block as described above are restrained between portions [0 of the sup- P rting springs.

serves to retain diaphragm 22 against shoulders against seat 25 is varied. Lock nut 20 is used to:

lock bolt 2! in a predetermined position. It can be seen from Figure 3 that diaphragm 22 is sub- The manner of affording the removal and replacement of brake blocks and springs by means of pin I2 is most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5. The central portion 35 of pin I2 is of slightly less diameter than portions 26 on the ends of the pin. When the spring is in place it tends to exert a forceon' pin l2 outwardly of channel 2 and thereby aflords a restraining force on pin l2 to prevent the pin 'from inadvertently moving out of place. The shoulder between portions 25 and I need be only a few thousandths of an inch to achieve this result. It can readily be seen that if the spring is slightly depressed, pin l2 may be readily removed.

As pointed out in the co-pending application mentioned above, the resilient elastic gasket 6 is oi a synthetic rubber or. elastomeric material which has the physical properties of rubber but it also has the ability to resist the action of oil or oil compoimds that may be used as hydraulic fluid. As the hydraulic fluid pressure in channel 1 is increased, the seal 6 is deformed to exert a large radial force against. the thrust members which 76-18 t ansmitted to't e brake blocks and secondary forces which are exerted laterally of the seal to prevent the escape of hydraulic fluid along the edges of the seal.

Brake blocks 3 may be of any brake block material which affords efilcient braking action against the drums when urged outwardly. These brake blocks may be molded to form the ends to the proper shape and contour for immediate installations. The segmental ring 8 in the form illustrated in' the drawings is a metal segmental thrust member placed in groove I over gasket 6, but it is to be understood that the segments can be secured to brake blocks 3 or the blocks can be formed with integral ribs.

It is to be understood that certain changes, alterations, modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a brake of'the class described, a brake drum, brake blocks adapted to engage said brake drum, actuating means therefor comprising a cylindrical member backing said brake blocks, said member having a groove formed in the periphery thereof, passage means formed in said member interconnecting said groove and affording communication with a source of fluid pres-' sure, a resilient elastic gasket positioned in said groove substantially filling the same whereby said gasket may be moved radially in said groove to 'move said brake blocks against said brake drum, said brake blocks having the end portions thereoi formed as inclined, fiat surfaces lying parallel to the radial axis through the center of said brake blocks, abutment members secured to the cylindrical member and having similarly inclined flat abutments faces extending substantially across the width of the blocks, said inclined ends of said brake blocks abutting said abutment face's'to permit radial motion of the brake blocks but prevent peripheral motion. j

2. A radial brake actuator assembly comprising an outwardly opening channel-shaped rim, an annular member supported within said channel and having a narrow channel at the outer face thereof as compared with said first channel, an

. annular sealing ring adapted to besupported in said second channel and capable of radial expansion and contraction. radial movable brake blocks supported in said first channel, and means to direct fluid under pressure into said second channel against said sealing ring to radially move the same to actuate said brake blocks, spring members positioned in said channel member transverse ofsaid brake blocks, said springmembers having portions to engage the ends of said brake blocks torestrain said blocks upon radial movement thereof and other portions against which wthe ends of the blocks continually abut during radial movement to restrain peripheral motion thereoi and absorb braking torque.

3. A radial brake actuator assembly comprising an outwardly opening channel-shaped rim, an annular member supported within said channel and having a narrow channel at the outer face thereof as compared with said first channel, an annular sealing ring adapted to be supported in said second channel and capable of radial expansion and contraction, radial expansible brake elements supported in said first channel, means to direct fluid under pressure into said second channel against said sealing ring to radially expand the same to move said brake elements outwardly, leaf spring members positioned in said channel members transversely of the ends of said brake elements, said springmernbers restraining the ends of said brake elements against radial motion, said spring elements abutting the ends of said brake elements to prevent peripheral motion, said spring elements affording the return force on said brake elements when the fluid pressure is relieved.

4. A radial brake assembly comprising a channel-shaped rim, brakeblocks supported in said rim for said radial movement, means defining an annular channel disposed radially inwardly from said brake blocks and opening radially outwardly, a pressure sealing member disposed in said channel portion adapted to be radially expanded and contracted by hydraulic pressure to actuate said brake blocks radially, brake block supporting members held against peripheral motion along said first mentioned channel and positioned transversely thereof at opposite ends of each block. the sides of said members being inclined in planes parallel toa radial plane through the center of the associated brake block to provide flat surfaces extending substantially the full width of said block, the ends of said brake block being formed in similar planes and abutting the sides or said supporting members so that the brake blocks may move radially while fully supported at the ends against peripheral motion.

' EARLESTEWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 1909 

